Timeless

Chapter 13: Buck

Evan could feel the pull of his eyelids begging him to close them and sleep, but he just couldn't do it. He stayed up all night rereading the letter he got. He wanted nothing more than to wake up from this nightmare he was trapped in.

It was almost like Chris could sense that something was wrong. His son had cried and cried for hours. Evan tried everything, but the only thing that seemed to make the boy's cries subside was Eddie's videos. One would finish and the cries would start again before he would switch to the next one. Evan teared up watching Eddie on the screen, hearing his voice through the laptop speaker. The process lasted until Chris finally wore himself out and fell asleep in Evan's arms. He sat and held his son for a while. He watched his son for a while, taking in just how much their son looked like his husband. He couldn't help but think that these videos may be the only memories Christopher has of his father. He hated that thought but it wouldn't leave his head.

Evan himself couldn't sleep no matter how hard he tried. He sat up rereading Eddie's letters, wishing that he could have his husband in his arms just one more time. He found himself struggling to keep up hope that Eddie would ever be home again, but he knew he would never fully let go. He felt this sensation deep in his heart, something telling him that his husband was still out there fighting to get home to him and Chris.

When morning finally came, he tried his best to hold it together as he got Chris ready to go to see his Tia and Abuela. They had received the same letter Evan did and offered for Evan and Chris to come over and stay with them. While Evan wanted nothing more than to just call in sick and stay in the comfort of their home, he felt as though he needed to go to work, and get his mind off of things for a little while, or his thoughts would just consume him. He finished getting Chris dressed, his son not seeming like his happy, bubbly self. Evan had tried his best to make sure that he was holding it together around his son, not letting him see his Papa cry, but it was hard.

When he pulled into the driveway, Pepa was already standing in the driveway waiting to pull him into a hug. He held her tight, knowing that she needed the comfort just as much as, if not more than he did. Pepa pulled away first, moving to get Chris out of his car seat while Evan grabbed his bag. They headed inside where Isabel met them in the kitchen.

"Oh, Evan," was all she could say before pulling him into a hug. Evan relished the comfort the hug brought him. It felt warm and safe, very similar to how Eddie's hugs made him feel. He had to keep telling himself not to cry.

"Thank you guys for watching him while I'm on shift," he said, quietly sitting down at the table. As much as he didn't want to eat, he knew that both women would not let him leave without putting something in his stomach.

"What have we told you about thanking us for that?" Pepa asked, sitting down. "We're family. It's no problem at all. We wish you could stay with us. Surely your captain would understand."

"I really think I just need the distraction," Evan explained. "It's really hard to just sit and think about the fact that he's not here."

As Isabel set their plates on the table, her phone started ringing. She excused herself to go answer it on the porch.

"I know it's hard, Evan. But I know my nephew. He is the toughest fighter I know. I feel it in my heart that he is still out there and fighting to come back home."

"I'm trying to keep the same faith," he said, moving his food around his plate. His stomach was in knots and as much as he loved Isabel's cooking, the last thing he wanted to do was eat.

Isabel returned, taking her place at the table.

"That was Ramon," she sighed. "They got the letter about Eddie as well. He said they were planning to come get Christopher."